Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-11
THE OUTRAGE UPON THE AGRICULT-
URAL FAIRS.

no adjustment has been reached con-
corning the dates of conflict of the State,
the District aud the Mechanics Institute
Fairs, and all will be held at the same
time. The proposition that the State Fair
Board of Directors should take an earlier
date, the Institute Directors somewhat
later one, and the former pay the latter
$500 to make even on the music con-
tract, was simply impossible of acceptance.
To change the date OF the State Fair would
disarrange and interfere with the dates of
the District Fairs, and the law of the State
prohibits such interference TO pay $500
to the Institute management to enable it
to change without expense, was, to say the
least, a proposition exceedingly humiljat-
ing, and that would be taken in the nature
of confession of error on the part of the
State Board in fixing its dates The truth
Is, the State Fair date was named year
ago, and the Institute people fixed theirs
with full knowledge that the action would
make conflict. They have behaved in a
most ungenerous and selfish manner, and
exhibited a spirit of obstruction, absorp-
ton and narrowmindedness, that cannot
but result in injury to the State.
II is shameful and disgraceful business
on their part from beginning to end. The
people have nothing to gain from these
several fairs occurring at the same time ;
there is no earthly reason why the Insti-
tute Fair cannot be held, as it has been for
years past, prior to the State Fair. August
is just as good, if not better month, for
the Institute than September.
There remains now duty for the people
of the interior to do, which they will not
neglect. They will rally to the support of
the State Agricultural ard the District
societies, and make their expositions for
1887 the largest completest and most val
liable to the State Of any ever held in Cal
ifornia. There is needed to accomplish
this end only vigorous exertions on the
part OF individuals. The aggregate of
many efforts will give US exhibitions that
will be an invaluable aid in advertising
the State. Let the people Of Central and
Northern California, especially, under
stand that their section will not be adver-
tised as ii should at the San Francisco fair.
San Francisco never has manifested full
realizing sense of the Importance of the
region. 1t is not very long ago that most
of lis press resisted the effort to construct
the California and Oregon road through it,
and some went 50 far as to designate rich
and inviting counties as worthless, and
their settlement and development as a
matter Of 20 consequence. The interior
must fight its own battles, and it is per-
haps as well that it should look for no aid
from San Francisco-its self-helpfulness
will be increased in the end.
San Francisco has shown its anxiety to
run counter to the interests of the interior.
Instead Of fostering dozen autumn fairs.
and thus giving visitors the broadest OPP
portunities to view our agricultural prod
uets in the sections where produced, they
have set up fair in opposition to FIVE Of
the District fairs and the State Fair to
draw patronage from them and concen-
trate the tourists in San Francisco, upon
whom the shop-keepers and landlords
may fatten for season. Though
the Institute management declared that it
did not intend to extend its fair to stock
exhibits and speed contests, it has now
been decided TO have these attractions be-
hind the mask of "Citizens' Committee
Nothing more strikiugly illustrates the
shortsightedness and selfish policy of San
Francisco than this latter action. At first
1t proposed to compete with the interior
fairs as to Pavilion exhibits only, leaving
to them the stock shows and speed con-
tests; now, after programmes have been
made, expenses incurred, contracts closed,
premiums offered and purses hung up, the
''eitizens" of San Francisco come forward
and bid in competition for the horned
stock and speed horses to be brought to
that city and for their owners to abandon
the interior exhibitions.
1t remains to be seen if the people will
submit to these several impositions-:hey
are nothing less. The present indications
are that the country will manifest a proper
spirit. In San Joaquin county the Super
visors, who had appropriated money to
organize exhibits for the State Fair, Dis
trict Fair and Institute exhibition. have
rescinded the order 50 far as the latter is
concerned, and directed the fund to be
used to promote the two iirst-named classes
only. From all the District Fair manage
nlenIs have come up protests against
change Of the in erior dates, and ex-
pressions of indignation at the action of
the Institute management, and the interior
press with unanimity have likewise con-